Safety precautions to be observed in handling German munitions, fuzes and fuzed projectiles

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Safety Precautions To Be

Observed In Handling

German Munitions

Fuzes and Fuzed Projectiles

Prei>.\!u;i) by Secoxi) s-a n
Gknkhal Si akf, G. li. Q., ,\. i

F5^BR^ARY 18, 1918

Fop Official Cipcuiation G. H. 0- A. E. F.

Only Second Sec. Genepal Staff

Febpuapy 18, 1918

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS TO BE OBSERVED
IN HANDLING GERMAN MUNITIONS

FUZES AND FUZED PROJECTILES

1. Fuzed projectiles or loose fuzes found or captured will be
examined as soon as practicable by an officer only, to determine
whether or not they are safe for handling, and also if they are
of a new or unusual type. If the latter condition is established,
they will be reported to an Intelligence Officer for disposition.

Unsafe projectiles and fuzes of known or usual types will be
conspicuously marked or protected pending disposition by de-
struction or burying.

2. German fuzes may be classified as to location in the pro-
jectile as Point and Base. Point fuzes are more frequently
encountered than base fuzes, and are visible from an outside
inspection of a projectile, except in the following cases:

(a) Projectiles employing point fuzes, but fitted with a
"false" (ballistic windshield) cap.

(b) The 77 mm. anti-tank shell (K. Gr. 15 m. P.).

(c) A variation of the 77 mm. long high explosive shell, when
provided with the fuze, "L. K. Z. 16 m. V."

These projectiles may be readily distinguished from base
fuzed projectiles from an inspection of the base, which bears no
indication of the presence of a fuze.

Base fuzes, as a rule, are found in large-caliber howitzer pro-
jectiles and in medium and large-caliber projectiles used in
high velocity long-range guns. The indications of the presence
of base fuzes, to be expected from an outside inspection of a
projectile, are a view of the fuze itself, or of the metal fuze
cover disc on the base of the projectile.

3. In general, the safety of a point fuzed projectile may be
determined in the following manner:

(a) Many types of point fuzes are provided with a safety pin
which passes through the fuze body and one of the active ele-

2. . ;;..: . ;■. .

:njent!s*in§rde: :U*:tUVj?,pj« is rusty, or if the construction of the
luze indicates that a safety pin was provided, but is missing,
the fuze and projectile should be regarded as unsafe for hand-
ling or transportation.

(b) Many types of fuzes are provided with gas escape holes
covered by a small metal disc sealed with a drop of wax. The
absence of the gas escape hole cover indicates that the fuze has
functioned in part, which should cause the fuze and projectile
to be regarded as unsafe for handling or transportation.

(c) "Instantaneous" fuzes are provided with a safety cap for
the protection of the seat for the percussion plunger rod. The
absence of the safety cap, or the presence of the percussion
plunger rod projecting from the point of the fuze should cause
the fuze and projectile to be regarded as unsafe for handling
or transportation.

4. Unexploded base fuzed projectiles, and those provided with
non-apparent point fuzes, should be regarded as dangerous for
handling or transportation until examination by an experi-
enced officer shows that they are safe.

5. German fuzes should never be placed in water with a view
to rendering them harmless. Many types of their fuzes contain
an internal safety device, composed of a mass of compressed
powder, which, if softened or dissolved by moisture, may permit
the arming of the fuze, and may thus render a safe fuze dan-
gerous for handling or transportation.

6. "Minenwerfer" projectiles are provided with point fuzes
which, in general, are similar in appearance, action and safety
arrangements to fuzes provided for guns and howitzers; how-
ever, the recent development of a minenwerfer fuze which
functions from lateral as well as longitudinal shock should
cause these projectiles to be regarded with greater suspicion
than those provided for guns and howitzers.

7. Data as to characteristics and illustrations showing ap-
pearance and markings of various fuzes and projectiles known
to be in service in the German army will be found in appro-
priate handbooks.

8. Gas shell for guns, howitzers and minenwerfer are pro-
vided with point fuzes of the same general appearance and
characteristics as those provided for high explosive shell; the
safety rules above given for point fuzes therefore apply.

9. Leaking gas shell should be buried in at least three and
one-half feet of earth and in addition the following should be
carried out:

(a) Blue Cross, Green Cross, gun or howitzer shell, and all

minenwerfer shell marked with one or more white bands or the
letters "B," "C" or "D" should first be covered with a layer of
lime.

(b) Yellow Cross shell should first be covered with a layer of
chloride of lime.

10. Gas shell should never be thrown in water, for not only
may the safety device of the fuze become ineffective (see par.
4), but the water may become poisoned. Gas shell, if safe for
handling, should always be stood on the base in order to pre-
vent the possibility of the liquid coming into contact with
the fuze (see par. 4).

GRENADES.

11. German grenades may be classified as Explosive Hand
Grenades, Gas Hand Grenades and Explosive Rifle Grenades.

Grenades found or captured will be examined as soon as
practicable, only by a trained bomber or an officer who thor-
oughly understands the construction and functioning of grenades
in general. This examination has for its purpose the determi-
nation of whether or not the grenade is of a new or unusual
type and the matter of its safety for handling and transporta-
tion.

Unidentified or unusual types and their fragments will be
reported to an Intelligence Officer for disposition. Unsafe
grenades of known types will be conspicuously marked or pro-
tected, pending disposition by burying or destruction.

EXPLOSIVE HAND GRENADES.

12. Cylindrical Grenade with Wood Handle, Old Type. (See
figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.) There are two variations of this type,
both being exploded by a friction time fuze and pull cord or
wire. In the earlier model, the pull cord is secured to the lower
part of handle by a paper band; in the later model, the pull
cord is coiled in a cavity in the base of the handle, which is
closed by a metal screw cap. If found with paper band broken
and pull cord free, or handle screw cap missing, the grenade is
live and should be handled with care.

13. Cylindrical Time Grenade with Metal Handle, 1917 Type.
(See figure 5.) This grenade differs from No. 1, in being pro-
vided with an aluminum handle painted "field gray." It is ex-
ploded by a friction time fuze and pull cord or wire; the latter
is attached to a weight seated in a cavity in the bottom of the
handle, and is held in place by a screw cap.

If found with handle screw cap missing, the grenade is live,
and should be handled with great care.

14. Cylindrical Percussion Grenade with Wood and Metal
Handle ("Wilhelm"), (See figure 6.) This grenade is similar in
appearance to No. 1, except that the upper half of its handle is
of metal, the cylinder is of slightly greater diameter, and the
belt hook is missing. There are two variations of this type; in
one, a safety pin is attached to a weight, seated in a cavity in
the base of the handle, and retained by a handle screw cap. In
the other, the handle screw cap is not used; the safety pin ter-
minates in a ring, which projects from the bottom of the
handle, and is held in place by a safety cord passing through
the handle.

If found with the safely pin ring or safety pin weight missing,
the grenade is not safe for handling. This type of grenade is to
be regarded as especially dangerous.

15. Cylindrical Percussion Grenade with Wood Handle, 19i7
Type. (See figure 7.) This grenade is quite similar in outward
appearance to the later variation of No. 1, the end of its handle
being closed by a metal screw cap which retains in the handle
cavity a weighted tube.

If found with the handle screw cap missing or weighted tube
projecting, the grenade is not safe for handling. Unsafe percus-
sion grenades are to be regarded as especially dangerous.

16. Egg, Time Hand Grenade. (See figure 8.) The body is
of cast iron painted black, of about the same shape and size as
a large egg. One end is flattened and is provided with a screw
seat for the friction primer-time fuze tube, which is provided
near its outer end with a gas escape hole drilled through its
side and covered by a paper band. The loop of the friction pull
cord or wire emerges from the end of the tube. If found with
the friction pull cord loop in place, and no evidence of the
burning through of the paper cover for gas escape hole, the
grenade is live and should be handled with great care, since a
pull on the friction loop will cause it to explode.

17. Disc, Percussion Hand Grenade. (See figure 9.) Two vari-
ations of this type are known; a small model, made of two
convex discs of sheet iron crimped or riveted together, and a
large model made of cast iron. The brief description below
given applies to both models.

This type of grenade is provided at its edge with six radial
tubes, five of which are closed by screw caps or plugs, and the
sixth with a slip cap, retained by a cotter pin terminating in a
ring; the tube opposite the one last mentioned contains the de-
tonator, and is marked by the letter "S" stamped in tne top of
the screw cap.

If found with cotter pin or slip cap missing, the grenade is

live and should be handled with great care. If any portion of
the safety plunger projects from the slip cap tube, or if this
tube is empty, the grenade should not be handled by anyone.

18. Spherical Time Hand Grenade. (See figure 10.) This
grenade is a sphere of cast iron, three inches in diameter, ser-
rated for fragmentation and provided with a friction tube, from
the end of which projects a friction wire terminating in a ring.
A gas escape hole is provided near the outer end of the friction
tube, and covered with waterproof paper.

If found with friction wire in place, and paper cover for gas
escape hole not burned through, the grenade should be handled
with care, since a pull on the friction wire will cause an ex-
plosion.

19. Spherical Percussion Hand Grenade. (See figure 11.) This
grenade consists of an iron sphere, serrated for fragmentation,
into which is screwed a steel cylinder 35 mm. in diameter and
57 mm. in height, containing a' percussion firing mechanism. A
small wire passes through a hole drilled in the base of the
cylinder and is attached to a cord, which is in turn fastened to
a projector cup by means of which the grenade is thrown.

The projector cup is a steel cylinder 40 mm. in diameter and
100 mm. high, with a flaring mouth.

If found with safety wire broken, or if the grenade is found
separate from the projector cup, it is live, and should not
be handled by anyone.

GAS GRENADES.

20. Gas grenades are hand-propelled, and include two types:
the non-explosive glass grenade, and the metal grenade, which
requires a small charge of explosive in order to cause the rup-
ture of the case.

21. Glass, Gas Hand Grenade. This grenade consists of a
glass sphere 85 mm. in diameter, sometimes covered with a pro-
tective cord netting. It is non-explosive, but breaks up on im-
pact.

Unbroken grenades of this type, while not actively dan-
gerous, should be handled with care, precautions being taken
against their being dropped.

22. Metal Gas Grenade. (See figure 12.) This grenade is
composed of two hemispheres of sheet iron 100 mm. in diameter,
painted gray, and provided with a friction tube-detonator
screwed in the body.

This tube, when in place, projects about 24 mm. and carries a
friction pull wire terminating in a ring.

Variations of this type may be distinguished by the following
inscriptions to be found painted on the body:

Early type: "B" or "B. StoflF," or "Hoechst-a-M." in black.

Later type: A red band about the junction of the body, and
the letter "B" painted on each side of the band. The inscription
in red, "Gas C."

As a general rule this type of gas grenade should not be
handled by any one except an officer familiar with the subject
of gas.

Leaky gas grenades should be disposed of in the same manner
as that prescribed for gas projectiles.

23. To disassemble safe hand grenades:

(a) Handle type: Unscrew handle and remove detonator.

(b) Egg or spherical types: Unscrew friction or detonator
element.

(c) Disc types: Unscrew the "S" cap and then the remaining
ones, except the slip cap held by the cotter pin; remove the de-
tonator and friction pellets.

RIFLE GRENADES.

24. German rifle grenades may be divided into two general
classes: Percussion Type with Tail Rod, and Time Fuze Type.

25. 1913 Model, Tail Rod Percussion Type. (See figure 13.)
This grenade is composed of a steel cylinder painted "field gray,"
120 mm. long, 40 mm. in diameter, serrated for fragmentation
and provided with a tail rod 450 mm. in length. A percussion
fuze is screwed in a seat in the front of the body and two gas
escape holes filled with wax are provided near the rear.

If this type is found with gas escape holes open it is live and
should not be handled.

Even if the grenade appears to be safe (gas escape holes sealed
with wax) it should be handled with great care, since dropping
it may render it unsafe or cause its explosion.

26. 1913 Model, Tail Rod Percussion Type. (See figure 13.)
This is a variation of the original 1913 model, the difference
being the provision of a safety pin, which passes through a
stem at the lower end of the body, and one of the active ele-
ments inside.

If found with the safety pin missing, the grenade is live, and
if handling is necessary, great care should be exercised. If, in
addition, the gas escape holes are open, the grenade is dangerous
for handling by anyone.

27. 191^ Model, Tail Rod Percussion Type. (See figure 14.)
This grenade is composed of a steel cylinder and tail rod of

about the same appearance and dimensions as the 1913 model.
A cupped disc of iron is screwed over the lower end of the
body and a milled headed fuze is screwed into the nose. When
the fuze has not functioned, its milled head rests upon the end
of the nose without interval.

If the grenade is found with milled head of fuze extending a
short distance beyond the nose of the grenade body it is live,
and not safe for handling by anyone.

28. "Safe" grenades of the Percussion Tail Rod type should
be handled with great care, and if carried, the body and not the
tail rod should be grasped, the fuze end being carried upper-
most.

To disassemble "safe" grenades of this type, grasp the grenade
as when carried and unscrew the fuze.

29. 1917 Model Time Rifle Grenade. (See figure 15.) This
grenade is composed of a steel cylinder 58 mm. in diameter, 75
mm. in length, with hemispherical ends, pierced with an axial
channel for the passage of the rifle bullet. A fulminate cap is
seated in the side of the upper portion of the bullet channel.
The grenade is propelled by the gas of the rifle cartridge from
a "tromblon" attached to the ritle barrel by a spring collar.

While this type of grenade is not actively dangerous, it should
be handled with care, and no attempt should be made to intro-
duce any hard object in the bullet channel.

30. Stick Bomb. (See figures 16 and 17.) This bomb is fired
from a "Stick Bomb Thrower" or "Signal Thrower," and is of
the self-propelled type.

It is composed of a cast iron cylinder two and one-half inches
in diameter, five inches long and serrated for fragmentation. A
steel tube five inches long, containing the propelling cartridge,
is screwed into the lower end of the body; four vanes or wings
are riveted to this tube near its outer end. A percussion fuze se-
cured by a radial safety pin is screwed in a seat provided in the
upper end of the body. The body, tube and vanes are painted
"field gray."

If found with fuze in place, but safety pin missing, the bomb
is live and should not be handled by anyone.

If both fuze and its safetj^ pin are in place, or if the fuze is
missing, the bomb may be handled, but with care.

To disassemble safe bombs of this type, unscrew the fuze.

31. Signal and Message Rockets. (See figures 18, 19 and 20.)
These devices are composed of a cylinder of iron or zinc one
and one-half inches in diameter and three and one-half inches
long, with the front end closed by a conical iron cap painted a
distinctive color. To the lower end of the cylinder is attached a

8

tube seven inches long, to which are riveted four vanes or
wings.

These devices are non-explosive, except for the propelling
cartridge seated in the forward portion of the tube, and are
fired from a "stick bomb thrower" or "signal thrower."

Message rockets contain various colored light compositions,
indicated by the painting on the conical closing cap, which, in
the case of two specimens examined, was red and green, re-
spectively.

The message rocket, in addition to a light and smoke composi-
tion, contains in the forward portion of the body a small metal
can intended for the reception of a written message. The color
of the front closing cap of a specimen examined was yellow.

Rockets of the above types are not dangerous for handling
or transportation.

CYLINDRICAL TIMET HAND GRENADE.
WITH WOOD HANDLE

F.g. 1.

OLD TYPE

Ffg. 2.
Section.

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CYLJNOPtCAL. TIME HAND Gl?ENADE

WITH WOOD handle:

MODIFICATION.
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Elevation. Section.

CYLINDRICAL TIME HAND GRENADE

W(TH METAL HANDLE

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bomb in posUion.

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